Listening to the Next Generation of Volunteers

During the Samaritan Contest — the international first aid youth competition that brings together young volunteers from Samaritan organisations across Europe to test their skills in realistic emergency scenarios — Samaritan International carried out a survey of 105 young volunteers (ages 12-21) from 13 European countries.

Rather than approaching the topic from a distance, the survey met participants where they already were: on the contest floor, between simulated emergencies, surrounded by peers who share their commitment to helping others. Samaritan International used the direct access to a group of highly engaged young volunteers, to get a better insight of what drives this generation to serve.

What the Survey Set Out to Explore

The questionnaire focused mainly on three interconnected areas:

• Motivation — Why do young people choose to volunteer, and how do they choose the specific sector?
• Personal and societal resilience — How does volunteering shape young people’s ability to cope with challenges, and what is their awareness for the role does it plays in strengthening communities’ capacity to withstand crises?
• Social cohesion and community building — In what ways does volunteering help young people build connections and contribute to more united, supportive communities?

The survey was conducted within the framework of the Social Preparedness and Resilience Initiative (SPIRIT), an initiative co-financed by the European Union. SPIRIT aims to strengthen the resilience of social services and increase social cohesion, as well as to strongly embed social considerations in disaster preparedness and response.

What Comes Next

The insights gathered from the 105 respondents will be compiled into a full report, offering a detailed picture of young volunteers’ motivations and the broader value of their engagement — for themselves, for their organisations, and for society at large.

The report will be shared on the Samaritan International website and distributed via newsletter once finalised.